Alyssa Miller, President
Alyssa Miller (B.Mus., M.Mus.) is a freelance oboist and music educator. She has performed with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, Red Deer Symphony Orchestra, Royal Canadian Artillery Band, Plexoos Ensemble, Opera Nuova, and Pro Coro Canada, as well as in pop-classical crossover shows for Video Games Live, Il Divo and Chantal Kreviazuk. Alyssa also enjoys performing as an instrumentalist with a variety of community instrumental and choral ensembles to support the talented and diverse musical offerings available in the Edmonton region.
Her teaching experience ranges from private lessons, group clinics and masterclasses to performance coaching and audition preparation.
Margaret Fisher, Vice President
Margaret attempts to balance work, family life with two teenaged boys and a menagerie of animals, and music. Orchestral playing and chamber music provide a deep source of pleasure and fulfillment for her. She plays in a number of other groups and is a longstanding member of the orchestra.
Mindy Lamont, Treasurer
Mindy began playing cello at the age of 8 in the Edmonton Public School’s music enrichment program and played in the former CSO from 2004. She is co-founder of La Folia, an Edmonton string ensemble dedicated to the historically-informed performance of early music and is active in many other ensembles. When not playing cello or viola da gamba, she runs a bookkeeping business and is also a working partner in an industrial supply company.
Adrian Rys, Secretary
Liane Gayler, Registrar
Liane Gayler, BMus, a longtime freelance performer with the ESO, EOA, AB Ballet, Citadel Theatre, Opera Nuova, Mercury Opera, and numerous other professional ensembles. Was one of the founding members of the CSO from 1988. Teaches flute at MacEwan and Concordia Universities. Served on the formation committee of the teachers’ association at Alberta College, and subsequently as Secretary, VP, and President for 15 years.
Loves Rob, Brodie and walks with the two of them.
Erik Visser, Concert Organizer
Erik Visser was a Mechanical Engineer and part-owned a Metal Fabrication company and decided to change careers and become an visual artist. He is a painter, graphic designer, photographer, videographer and works mostly for musicians. He is heavily involved in the day to day running of Early Music Alberta, a presenter of concerts of music written prior to 1850 based on historically informed practices.
He is an avid amateur cellist and has been playing with many community groups, such as Concordia Orchestra, La Folia Baroque String Orchestra in addition to many chamber music ensembles. He plays modern and baroque cello as well as bass and treble viola da gamba. He now is a proud player of the new Orchestra Borealis.
Valerie Sim, Member at Large
Valerie Sim is a scientist who practices medicine to support her music habit. She started piano at age 5 and violin at age 7, obtaining her Associateship of Music (violin) and her grade IX piano at Mount Royal College (now University) in Calgary before turning to a life of science and medicine, with music on the side. Now, in addition to her role as concertmaster of the Orchestra Borealis, she is concertmaster of the Edmonton Metropolitan Orchestra, she is a member of the early music ensemble LaFolia, she performs chamber music, she plays for musicals, and every now and then she can be caught fiddling… behind her back..
Silvia Shadick Taylor, Member at Large
Robin Taylor, Member at Large